First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1spiritual
adjective spir·i·tu·al \ˈspir-i-chə-wəl, -i-chəl, -ich-wəl\
: of or relating to a person's spirit
: of or relating to religion or religious beliefs
: having similar values and ideas : related or joined in spirit
Full Definition of SPIRITUAL
1
: of, relating to, consisting of, or affecting the spirit : incorporeal <spiritual needs>
2
a : of or relating to sacred matters <spiritual songs> b : ecclesiastical rather than lay or temporal <spiritual authority> <lords spiritual>
3
: concerned with religious values
4
: related or joined in spirit <our spiritual home> <his spiritual heir>
5
a : of or relating to supernatural beings or phenomena b : of, relating to, or involving spiritualism : spiritualistic
— spir·i·tu·al·ly adverb
— spir·i·tu·al·ness noun
See spiritual defined for English-language learners
See spiritual defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of SPIRITUAL
Middle English, from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French espirital, spiritual, from Late Latin spiritualis, from Latin, of breathing, of wind, from spiritus
Related to SPIRITUAL
- Synonyms
- bodiless, ethereal, formless, incorporeal, insubstantial, nonmaterial, nonphysical, immaterial, unbodied, unsubstantial
- Antonyms
- bodily, corporeal, material, physical, substantial
Other Christian Religious Terms
2spiritual
noun
: a religious folk song that was sung originally by African-Americans in the southern U.S.
Full Definition of SPIRITUAL
1
plural : things of a spiritual, ecclesiastical, or religious nature
2
: a religious song usually of a deeply emotional character that was developed especially among blacks in the southern United States
3
capitalized : any of a party of 13th and 14th century Franciscans advocating strict observance of a rule of poverty for their order
See spiritual defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of SPIRITUAL
1582
SPIRITUAL Defined for Kids
1spiritual
adjective spir·i·tu·al \ˈspir-i-chə-wəl\
Definition of SPIRITUAL for Kids
1
: of, relating to, or consisting of spirit : not bodily or material <“Sometimes we can't know what spiritual damage it leaves even when physical recovery is complete.” — Madeleine L'Engle, A Wrinkle in Time>
2
: of or relating to sacred or religious matters
— spir·i·tu·al·ly adverb
2spiritual
noun
Definition of SPIRITUAL for Kids
: a religious folk song developed especially among black people of the southern United States
Learn More About SPIRITUAL
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: spiritual bouquetPrevious Word in the Dictionary: spirit–solubleAll Words Near: spiritual
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up spiritual? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).